Outrageous anti foreigner article
Foreign man with Korean women in both arms
A previous post, ‘Anti Foreigner feeling in Korea’ touched on Korean xenophobic attitudes towards foreigners dating Korean women. Now Naver News is continuing to try to stir up anti foreigner hysteria by claiming that the foreign presence in the Hongik University area is destroying Korean morals and is leading to undesirable relationships between Korean women and foreign men. The article was discovered and translated by marmot, which is always an interesting read. Below is marmots translation of the article.
The number of foreigners walking up and down in front of Hongik University is increasing. Clubs with foreign DJs are enjoying a boom, and there are more and more Korean women visiting these and particular clubs for “booking”. The clubs in front of the Hongik University, known as the birthplace of Korea’s indie culture, are transforming in a foreigner’s “paradise for hunting women.”
As recently as the 2002 incident in which two middle school girls were killed by a U.S. military vehicle, the clubs in front of Hongik University were known as a “no-entry” area for U.S. soldiers. Foreign English teachers and foreign business folk like those who worked for financial firms in Yeouido were also banned from entry. An official with the Hongik University Club Federation said, “I remember the ban on U.S. soldiers as a measure taken out of consideration for public sentiment when the soldiers were found not guilty [in the 2002 armored vehicle incident]… The initial goal was to try to stop unfortunate incidents caused by U.S. soldiers from occuring.”
Afterwards, the flow of foreigners to the Hongik area stopped. Local residents openly complained that the Hongik area had been ruined “because of the U.S. soldiers and foreigners,” and club officials thoroughly put an end to the improper foreign club culture. The situation has changed, however. In 2003, the Hongik clubs began hiring foreign DJs and bands, and foreigners once again began heading to the area.
On official with one club in the area said, “It appears that as Korean women thinking of marrying foreigners and women who studied abroad flock to Hongik area, the number of foreigners is also increasing… We started performances by foreign bands in order to give the place a foreign atmosphere without having to go abroad.”
The reason why these women flock to the place, which seemed to have developed a healthy foreigner culture as foreigners became the norm there, is because the number of foreigners “who want to meet ‘real Koreans’” has increased. Ms. Lee, a 30-year-old who studied abroad, said, “Hongik has now become a ‘meeting place’ to meet with foreigners, with the number of younger women dating foreigners on the rise… There are also countless women coming to the area to engage in booking with foreign men.”
Hongdae is now an area hot with youthful passion that has degenerated from being mixed up with foreigners. As the recent act of indecent exposure by a punk band on live TV showed, the diversity and individuality of the area in front of Hongik University is nowhere to be found. As the number of foreigners with more of an interest in booking and one night stands than in the music increases, there are many women coming to the clubs in search of “blue-eyed men.”
The foreign men and Korean women enjoy heading to Picasso Street and “M” and “A” clubs. One foreign English teacher working in Gangnam said, “The area in front of Hongik University is the only place in Korea where we can meet girlfriends… There’s a general trend for Korean women to come up to you to talk, even if you’re just sitting in a club.”
Obviously this article is meant to stir up anti foreigner feeling, and is unfortunately a totally acceptable form of journalism in Korea.
A foreign resisident in Korea and fellow despoiler of Korean maidenhood who is fed up with Korean prejudice against international couples wrote the below letter to the writer of the article and the people involved in publishing it. Not only is Dogbert extremely popular with the local ladies, but he is very fluent in Korean (better than myself by several magnitudes).
Dogberts letter
김지만 기자님 안녕하세요?
제가 방금 김 기자님 무책임하게 쓰신 기사를 봤습니다.
이런 주제는 정말 “누스”라고 생각하십니까?
제가 알게에는 한국여자는 서양인 남자와의 관계는 불법 아닙니다. 저의 이해 하기는 틀립니까?
사적인 관계는 왜 토론 만들으세요? 제가 알고 싶습니다.
그리고 제가 알기에는 수많은 한국남자는 백인여자랑 단지 섹스 관계 만들고 싶어합니다. 기자님의 생각에는 그 것도 “뉴스” 아닙니까?
위선이 아닙니까?
반미나 반서양남자 감정을 분기 시키기 전에 북미나 서구에서 한국사람 몇 백만 명 살고 있는 것을 생각하셨으면 좋겠어요.
토종인 (우리들은 우리나라에는 “외국인” 아니란 것은 명심하세요)들은 이런 글은 좋아할 것 같나요? 아니면 인정차별주의자 한국사람들을 실어할까요?
아므튼 같은 한국인 남자라도 herald.m의 발행자께 엄한 이의를 넣겠습니다
My Translation (if it loses its eloquence, it is because of my poor translation)
“To the writer, Kim Jiman,
Mr Kim, I just read the irresponsible article written by you. Do you really think this kind of subject can be considered real ‘news’?
It is my understanding that relationships between Korean women and foreign men is not illegal. Am I incorrect?
Why do you try to make private relationships an issue? I would like to know.
I also know that a great many Korean men want to form sexual relationships with white women. In your opinion, is not that also ‘news’ that should be printed? Is that not hypocrisy?
Before stirring negative feelings against the men of America or other western countries, you should consider that millions of Koreans live in North America and Western Europe.
Do you think Westerners living in Western countries (keep in mind that we are not “foreigners” in our own countries) will appreciate this sort of article?. Or have the have the Korean proponents of institutionalized racism forgotten these words?
In any event, I plan to send a strong complaint to the publishers of Herald.M.”
If you are a foreigner dating a Korean girl, then you can be hassled anytime for no reason at all. I rememember 5 years ago it even happened in Sydney, Australia, when I didnt speak Korean. I was with a Korean female friend in a bar in sydney. We were approach by a what looked like a Korean english language student. He talked to my friend but I couldnt understand what he was saying. The conversation went on for about 10 minutes. She told me later what he said:
“Excuse me. If you dont mind id like to talk to you for a moment. It seems that you are associating with this foreigner. I dont know what kind of relationship you are in but i want to tell you not to disgrace the Korean race by dating him. All the foreigners want to do is have sex with Korean girls anyway. I know you probably want to learn english but I would advise you to stay away from him” ad nauseum
Most of the foreigners I know that live or lived in Korea has experienced exactly the same thing, time and time again. The funny thing is that many non Korean speaking English teachers in Korea are probably not even aware what is happening when it is happening to them.
I dont think this article is an abberation. Rather it is a reflection of the xenophobic nature of Korean society. Fortunately there are many dedicated men like myself, dogbert and many, many other fellows that are determined to break this cycle by engaging in ‘cultural interchange’ with Korean women. So the writer of this article can rest at ease in knowing that Korea will join the 21st century on the issue of inter racial dating.
I wrote a letter, too.
Dear Sirs,
Re: Your article of August 5, 2005 http://news.naver.com/news/read.php?mode=LSD&office_id=016&article_id=0000181069§ion_id=102&menu_id=102
This is racism of the worst kind. Your hatred of foreign culture is pathetic and sad. Is Korea a democracy or not? Are Koreans not free to choose partners of their own liking? Is Korea closed to all forms of immigration? Are foreigners banned from Korea? You are anti-democrats and probably long for an authoritarian government in the style of Park Chung-Hee. You are an example of Koreans that are losing power in the era of globalisation. You will surely be left behind in the century to come.
My country, Canada, has welcomed thousands of Koreans. They are not subject to humiliation in the media and are given full rights and protection by the government of Canada. Why do you continue to treat foreigners with proper visas or permanent residency here as second-class citizens? Your article would have sounded good at a Nazi rally in Nuremberg, 1933.
Sincerely,
xxxx
Seoul
Good job.
I have not yet received an answer and I don’t expect to. But I think it was worth it to write.
Maybe some korean people could be racist like other people are(including you north americans). But I doubt they are hard core racists like the nazis because they didn’t seriously killed anyone like the nazis, skinheads or KKKs did. If you didn’t felt welcomed sorry to hear that. I’m 100% sure not all koreans are like that. My korean friends are very open to non-koreans. I’m korean too. When I came to this country (America) I had lot of racism experience. SOme kids called me ” stupid chink or gook” and told me to “Get the fuck out of this country”. Some people also threw the volleyball at my face for no good reason. Even the teachers didn’t give a shit what Trouble I was into. They didn’t even punished the racist white kids who harmed me. Yeah! There was the time that I just wanted to leave this country. But there were also lot of americans who were very nice to me. My american friends, my american tutor, and my boss from my job. They helped me a lot from lot of things. That’s why I don’t dislike anybody. Your racial experience would be nothing comparing my racial experience. Fortunately, I’m not against foreigners dating korean women. Long as the foreigners truly love them, I think it’s fine and I date non-korean girls too. There are some rumors that said white boys wants to date korean and other asian women because they think asian women are so easy to get and easy to have relationship with. If you know about this, is this true???? because I saw some words of american men on forum saying ” Korean girls do anything that I told them to do.” “they are so easy” “Just like playing with a puppet”. If lot of them really do this, I would not be happy and you foreigners could be PURE EVIL. But I hope it’s not true most of the time.
Hey ki-min,
What about the treatment of black people in Korea? Would you say their experience is comparable to your experience in ‘evil’ America? I am very much awaiting your reply…
Well, Ki-min
You are right that not all people are the same or have the same racial views as others but as a majority alot of negative aspects stand out in both Korean and Western culture (America is not the only western civilization there is)!! There will always be a light in some people who will treat you equally and in a non-discriminatory way. I have been to Korea for my university studies and have seen the worse and best in people.
And as for inter-racial relationships I think there is no difference between that or a homo-geneous relationship. Guys will be guys and girls will be girls. I had many male Korean friends and they seemed to treat girls, Korean girls, very much like every other man does to any girl if not worse since there is no communication barrier between them.
I think the arguement here is that there is an interference of other people into inter-racial relationships. I don’t think there is many cases in the US of western guys coming up to an asian guy and his western girlfriend and saying how low she is for dating an asian guy and that she should break up and date only western guys. Don’t be a hypocrite and say it’s PURE EVIL!! In every country, in every uni, in every male bonding conversation there is bravodous conversations of how guys have shagged girls and having them gloat about it! you think Korean guys haven’t said how easy she was and how good her technique was and that she did everything for me?!? Take a good look around and don’t judge situations in black and white, there is colour and grey areas too!!
There are some rumors that said yellow boys wants to date russian and other white women because they think white women are so easy to get and easy to have relationship with. If you know about this, is this true???? because I saw some words of korean men on forum saying “White girls do anything that I told them to do.” “they are so easy” “Just like riding a white horse”. If a lot of them really do this, I would not be happy and you foreigners could be PURE EVIL. But I hope it’s not true most of the time.
자신 알자, 니 건방 떠는 놈!
What many Koreans don’t seem to get is that there is an institutionalized racism supported by the Korean media that is eager to maitain such racist thoughts in the minds of the Korean people. Immigrants like Ki-min try to paint a situation of kids crying “gook” as analogous, but it isn’t. If the New York Times, however, were to print articles such as “Increase of Koreans in Mid-Town leading to debuachery of white women!”, now, that would be analogous. However, that would never happen.
i don’t mean to be a smartass, but there’s a good bit of spelling mistakes in there. 알게에는, 누스, 아므튼, 인정차별, 실어하다. i don’t think it’s gonna make the right impression with their are so menny misteks in such a smalll lettter.
Well, I typed it when drunk. What can I say? Your girlfriend has sharp eyes.
The fact, though, is that those five mistakes, while typos, do not make the letter unintelligible – they are not grammatical errors, but spelling errors. I would think rather that the recipients would be somewhat impressed that a non-Korean would bother to write to them in Korean.
What the hell, if they sent me a response in English with typos, I would overlook the typos.
Ki-min,
Those rumours you cite are just a manifestation of the whole racist phenomenon the author is citing here. Saying that white boys date Korean girls because they are easy is just like saying all Chinese are smelly and dirty (heard that one here before?) or that all blacks are uncivilized.I’d like to reiterate Dogbert’s point that at least in the west there is little institutionalized racism in the media. I sympathize with you for receiving such bad treatment in the west, but you should know that its almost a daily occurrance for westerns here in Korea. I am a member of an anti-racist group in my home country so why don’t you look at forming one in yours?
The problem is that Koreans dont accept relationships if they dont know you (and often even if they do). If they see you with a Korean girl they immediately assume that the Korean girl is the ‘victim’ of the foreigner. This causes a lot of trouble for people that are just eating dinner together or having a drink together because many Korean men think they need to ’save’ the Korean girl from the ‘evil foreigner’.
Havent you ever heard of Korean playboys? From what I can see, Korean playboys have a lot more sex than foreigners in Korea. In fact, most of the foreign teachers in Korea are unable to speak Korean and the girls pretty much choose to date the teachers rather than the other way around. By this, I mean that foreigners in Korea are usually passive, and the Korean girls are aggressive about making a relationship. The fact is that Koreans are overly paranoid about foreigners. Even the website that you are talking about (I think it was ‘English Spectrum’) was talking about a very specific district in Seoul where Korean girls aggressively pick up foreigners. Nobody thinks that ‘all’ Korean girls are easy – thats crazy.
This is a good point. I recall having coffee in the middle of the afternoon with my secretary when a young Korean man walked into the coffee shop (a Western-style coffee shop, not a dodgy Korean “dabang”) and asked her “what is your two’s relationship?” I immediately asked him in Korean, “What business is that of yours?” whereupon the coward up and left.
Korean men and their attitude are the true problem.
Nothing to say against that. I know black people in korea doesn’t get treated well because of what they look like or the bad reputation that comes from the African-american gangsters in US. I know it’s very wrong because i had similar experience too. They have to know the fact that whatever race they are there’s always good people and bad people.
Well!! That’s their fucking problem if they feel like their women are taken away. I just want to call these guys CRY BABIES. “save the korean girls from evil foreigner”? What do they think they are? Asian Superman? I just want to laugh at this because I don’t think those girls as victims because it was all up to them.
I talked to one of my korean friend who lives in korea and he told me that korean guys in my generation (definitely not the oldies)doesn’t really think their women as precious thing anymore. Definitely not all of them but defintely more than few.
I never heard of that in my life. In my view, if the white women are easy to get, it’s not because they are stupid like asian girls who get impressed so easily by the white boys. It’s because they give more chances and more open-minded.
I’m already doing it with my korean friends.
I just want to say onething. I hate racist koreans because they embarrass me and I hate racist foreigners because they harmed me. I also hate the anti-foreigner propoganda that tries to make koreans to be xenophobic. Korean people shouldn’t pay attention to the articles too much. They have to make their own opinion. Korean guys who criticizes the koreangirls-foreigners couple, they have to think more carefully and have to know better and it’s not worth to pay attention to that.
Let’s look at what a hypocrite and bigot you are.
If white women are “easy”, it’s because they are open-minded enough to give a chance to a Korean man.
But if Asian women like white men, it is because they are stupidly impressed by white men.
You are a racist Korean.
I meant they give chance and open minded in general. Not to korean man. You idiot. I was trying to talk about them in a good way. I didn’t meant all the time.
I was only talking about the sell out asian bitches who laughs at the asian men and Who disses us behind our back. I’m just telling you the story I heard. Lot of people complained about that. I wasn’t trying to say asian girls are like this and white women are like that. Sorry if there was a misunderstanding. I know not all asian girls are like that. You think I’m racist? Say that if I’m criticizing 100% of the asian women in the world.
There you go again, Asian women with white men are “sell-outs”. But white women are “open minded”. I’d say that the Asian women who freely choose white men are open minded as well.
You, however, are closed minded, which is not a terribly huge surprise.
By the way, part of the difficulty in reasoning with Koreans is the prevalence of rumors and the currency they are given in Korean society. This is seen time and time again. Next time you just happen to “hear something”, try taking it with a grain of salt.
what a loser you are. I didn’t got this shit from korean societies. I heard this rumor in this fucking country. AMERICA There were also some white boys calling korean girls are ugly. That happened during my high school year. My asian-american friend also told me that story. When did I ever said asian women with white men are sell OUts? I was just saying that there some girls who’s like that. What does “some” means? Difinitely not “all”.
You think I’m close-minded. If I’m that close minded why do I have so many foreign friends who’s white, black, and hispanics? My foreign friends are not one of the guys who attacked me racially and my korean friends are not racist like the people that you’re complaining.
Why do you think I was just asking that as a question? It’s because I didn’t wan’t to have a stereotype about korean female-white male couple.
If you are in America, those whites, blacks, and Hispanics are not “foreigners”, you are! That’s another thing annoying about Koreans — they refer to anyone who’s not Korean as a “foreigner”, even in that person’s own country!
Ok. Non-korean friends would be more like it then. I was just saying in my perspective. And what’s up with you getting so frustrated with me? You korean hater. Like you american people never considered asians as outsiders. my asian-american and hispanic american friends say that they get treated like outsiders here. NO matter how americanized they are. You’re saying koreans are annoying? Look who’s racist and look who’s talking? If you dislike koreans so much Why do you even pay attention about them?
Because the women are hot. That makes up for the annoying factor in regard to them.
What do you bring to the table?
Well I guess you can’t have your cake and eat it two.
While ki-min may seem a little contradictory – though it’s possible he’s being slightly misunderstood in his English – I think it should be appreciated that he’s actually capable of putting himself in the position of discussing this issue… rather than just name calling.
While I can understand your questioning the confused beliefs his posts seem to suggest, dogbert, I don’t think you should go accusing him of ‘racism’ as blatantly as you did. Wouldn’t it be better to question his beliefs and opinions, so that we (and he) may get a rounder view of them – and thus perhaps other Koreans’, rather than just confronting his contributions with hostility?
Give it a try; we might all learn something.
good point you’re making. babtangee
I didn’t really tried to do anything offensive in first place. I was trying to say my opinion but it somehow happened to be an argument.
I welcome him to put forth his argument in Korean.
can you speak korean?
너 한국말 할줄알어?
모르는 사람에게 처음부터 반말로 인사하는 게 예의 바른 것이라고 생각하나요? 기민 씨처럼 싸가지 없는 사람들때문에 한국사람들에 대해서 별로 안 좋은 인상 받았어요. 잘난 척하는 사람(민족)을 누가 좋아할까요?
죄송합니다. I apologize.
한국말은 잘하시네요. 만약에 님이 한국사람들과 안좋은경험을 하셧다면 참 안타깝다는 말씀밖에 못드리겟읍니다. 그러나 한국사람들 다 그렇지 안다는 걸 알아주신 다면 정말 감사하겟읍니다. 저도 미국에 살면서 인종차별을 많이 당해 봤지만 절대로 미국사람들은 다 나쁘다는 생각을 하지 안았읍니다. 우리부모님도 흑인이나 백인들이라고 해서 그사람들이 다 나쁜건 아니라고 늘 말씀하셨읍니다. 지금 전 한국친구들뿐아니라 미국친구들도 많고 세계여러나라에서 온 친구들이 많읍니다.
님께서 한국여자들과 사귄다고해서 한국남자들로 부터 안좋은일을 당했다니.. 아무리봐도 한국사람들은 Media말을 너무 믿는거 같에요. 영어강사 몇명이 그랬다고해서 다 그런건 아닌데. 근데 님께서 한국남자들도 백인여자들과 섹스를 하고 싶어한다 그러셨는데 참 유감이네요. 제가알기론 대부분의 백인-한국인 커플은 백인남과 한국녀였는데..만약에 그런놈들이 있다면 아주 부끄럽다는 말밖에 못하겠읍니다. 저도 백녀들을 좋아하지만 단지 그냥섹스를 하고 싶어선 절때아니였는데요. 전 진짜 사랑관계를 맺고 십읍니다. 내가 아는 online 카페에 모이는 한국남자들도 저랑똑같은말을 하거든요. 근데 아직은 inter racial couple에 안좋은생각을 한국사람들이 만을지 모르겠지만 우리세대에 한국인들은 그런거에 부담을 같지안읍니다. 거짓일지모르게지만 이건 진짜에요. 내 한국친구들 중에 외국인들과 사귄애들 만은데 큰 문제 같은건 없었어요. 만약에 한국애인이 있으이면 잘해보세요. 사랑엔 국경이 없다는건 저도 잘아니깐요.
ps-If it’s hard for you to understand I’ll translate some words in english.
I accept your apology and I also apolgize for being rude to you, Ki-min.
Looks like we can do a cyber hand shake. LOL
I hope there will be no more racial fighting. Just waiting for the peaceful world.
It was a rough conversation but it was nice talking to you.
Good bye.
안녕!!
ps-you understand korean culture very well. better than I thought.
Dogbert is really stupid about that stupid letter. You mean defending evil, right?
To “katz”: who asked you?
To Ki-min: thanks.
What did you say, shitface?
Katz, put a sock in it. The only reason I keep your posts around is because you help prove my point.
Comments by Koreans are very interesting,
I found the interesting comments by Koreans in the site below.
http://jetiranger.tripod.com/BLOG/index.blog?entry_id=1198251
Racism in Korean seems to be much worse that in Japan.
Even japanese people have racial feelings, they never show it to you. That could be better somehow because you’re not hurting other people’s feelings.
better in what way?.
If America is such a great place and the people less racist than they are in Korea, then why do so many Americans in Korea FLOCK to Korean girls? Some of it may be genuine interest, but there is a great deal of Asian fetish going on, too, among Westerners.
JK
I am sorry. I have a question.
I think in gereral men tend to flock to women.
What makes you think that” there is a great deal of Asian fetish going on, too, among Westerners”?
I often see a Japanese girl walking with an American in Tokyo.
There might be some Japanese girls who love Americans especially .
There might be some Americans who loves Japanese girls in particular.
Is there anything wrong with that?
nothing wrong with that. Lot of people are just too conservative to understand.
I am the one of those couple, an Asian girl went to travel and met a ‘guy’ by desitiny, fell in love and happily married to that ‘guy’ who’s happend to be a blue-eyed Canadian
)
so every time go out together can’t help but stared at.
we both love travel but hesitate to travel to any Asia countries.
Asians from most Asian countries … well, you may know well …many don’t see us as genuine husband and wife
Western has less but they look at me as cinderella or something even though I am from wonderful wealthy family, well educated, fine looking with good personality(i am not kidding,
it hurts!!! these nonsense, prejudice hurts alot.
my husband goes ‘baby don’t mind, they are just jealous ‘cuz you look so Hot and Perfect. that’s why.’ I believe him but still honestly.. it hurts.
“What about the treatment of black people in Korea? Would you say their experience is comparable to your experience in ‘evil’ America? I am very much awaiting your reply… ”
What about the treatment of koreans in the hood. HOw many did they killed and robbed them? huh?
K-girls? That is the most gayest name ever. I have no intensity to protect them or anything. They can suck whatever foreigner cock they want.
What this thing is really trying to say?
“haha!! look at these. Korean guys. This is what you are. The Korean girl’s bitches who’s so insecure and dying to protect your women from the foreign guys. Are you offended now? These girls are leaving you.”
Doesn’t offend me. There are still way too many korean girls in my area no matter how many white or black boys date them. But I don’t prefer only korean or asian girls. WHY? because bitch is a bitch!!!!
What this thing is really trying to say?
“haha!! look at these. Korean guys. This is what you are. The Korean girl’s bitches who’s so insecure and dying to protect your women from the foreign guys. Are you offended now? These girls are leaving you.”
Doesn’t offend me. There are still way too many korean girls in my area no matter how many white or black boys date them. But I don’t prefer only korean or asian girls. WHY? because bitch is a bitch!!!!
I just saw another article that is similar to this. “Koreans shut down Cultural exchange” One with the picture of a korean girl and a Indian guy. Topic is so obvious. It’s another story about korean men trying to protect their women from foreigners. which sounds really ridiculous Comments from guys like mattress was so immature. Calling coreano84 jap just because he said he likes non korean girls? What a stupid idiot. Guys like him makes korean men look like korean women’s bitch.
Redskins84, comments about other articles have to be in the comments section for those articles, not this one, or things get too cluttered. If the comments are closed, it is probably because the article is too old, or has too many comments directed towards other commenters that are no longer reading.
http://news.media.daum.net/editorial/column/200604/04/donga/v12258674.html
This paper is very famous korean newspaper. They are saying it’s already revealed that korea is not a racially homogenous country and nobody is.
All Korean men are korean women’t bitch? All korean men Getting jealous everytime they see foreigners dating korean women? My ASS!!!
http://news.media.daum.net/snews/society/affair/200510/26/seoul/v10587784.html
It all comes down to tradition and culture in the west and east. The east are known to be more conservative and reserved, where as the east are more free about sex and well…everything.
however if i were to live in korea ,then i would do so by their traditions. just as the westerners wouldn’t appreciate change to their culture.
e.g. When the muslim leader blamed women for being raped by men in australia, we were furious! like the australian people say. “if you live in our country then you must respect the autralian culture, if not then go back to your country!”
in the end, this entire episode isn’t about korean girls or foreign men. its about the fear of koreans losing their culture and traditions to western way of life.